i hate utah cops

[JustinB]

So this morning my insurance expired so I bought a new plan at 10 am this morning at 7 pm I was pulled over on my way to the cabin for a "tail light" which by the way was working I tested it with him there "lier" anyway he said his computer showed no insurance on my truck so I gave him my info so he called gieco they said to him I had no insurance so with him there I called they said to me I had insurance. My wife also called told her I had insurance. Offered the cop to talk to the guy I was talking to the cop said no he made his "call" then gieco sent me my isurance cards via email showed him them on my blackberry he said they weren't valid! Well long story short my truck was impounded for no insurance and now I have to pay impound fee's at 145 bucks an hour all night cause the dmv is closed! Some cops need there heads checked!

 

[hatchers]

my hair hurts

 

[Dunatic]

WOW! they would have had to haul me off to jail, I would have flipped out, get proof that you had coverage and take it to court!

 

[girlpowder]

Wasn't your wife going to be a cop? Can't she pull some strings Justin?

What the heck is going on with the system???

 

[JustinB]

Nothing I could do the 2nd cop that showed up I know very well and it pissed me off cause since he wasn't the first one he told me there was nothing he could do. The cop that pulled me over was a real dick didn't care just kept telling me "I'm just doing my job to the full exyent of the law" it bites too my brother just called he made it to the cabin said there was a foot of new snow and I have the sleds "the trailer had the tail light" I was so pissed I talked to allot of our friends on uhp and the other cop that was on scene they all said I could easily get the ticket waved but the impound fees are set by the tow yards no way out of them!

 

[sandorsnow]

that blows.

I had a similar experience a few years back. It's a long story with alot of choice words, so here's the short version. I helped a guy out to get back on his feet by buying a car and he made the payments to me. since it was in my name i insured it. One night he gets pulled over in Farmington for some b.s. excuse ( tail light burned out whatever), and he has a warrant out for not appearing at a divorce hearing (dumb on his part).

The cop calls me at 2:00 in the f'n morning and tells me my car is being impounded for no insurance. I tell him it's insured and the copy is in the glove box. He replies he's holding the copy and since it's not the original, it doesn't count, and his computer shows it's never been insured and its after hours on friday night/saturday morning so I'm screwed. I ask him to wait 15 minutes and i'll drive down from Kaysville to show him my original in my wallet. No can do he replies bla bla bla, won't tell me who's towing it, I'll have to call monday to get all the information.

Monday I call, the car's in bountiful and I can go pick it up there. Go to pick it up and they tell me I have to pay the impound fees at the county courthouse first and bring the proper paperwork duh. Go to the courthouse and told I need to clear the insurance up with the dmv first. Go to the dmv and my insurance card in my wallet won't suffice, it needs to be the original policy paperwork, it's the right one for the cops but they need a different one, oh but here's a # and you can just have them fax it to us, but the dmv fax machine currently isn't working of course. What the hell? So after being passed around like a cheap whore, I prove to them the car's been insured from the time I bought it and get the seal of approval from the dmv and can go to the courthouse to pay the fines.

Tuesday I go to the courthouse in a good mood fully expecting to not be charged because the car was insured the whole time. Well that nice young lady who hates her job and life was more than excited to inform me that I'm a naive dumba$$. Apparently it's my responsibility to make sure that I'm in the system correctly not theirs, and to please pay the fine. Well that's not right, I tell her, I just proved (in 3 different ways) it's been insured the whole time. And then SHE LAUGHS and says WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? SUE THE STATE? now I've been super nice and patient this far hoping it would earn me some bonus points but after that comment, I LOST IT. I knew she was right but her delivery just sucked. And for my male ego's sake I unloaded. Yep this was 4-5 yrs ago and when I go down to register my stuff the nice ladies still know me by name.

So after I pay them I still had to go pay the tow truck co. their towing and storage fees.

When all was said and done I was out 2 days work and close to $2,000 bucks.

I repo'd the damn car and gave it to my mom.

so good luck with that centerville sledder, and start watching Richard Pryor movies for "proper pronunciation" you're going to need it

That really was the short version

 

[Chief]

"SHE LAUGHS and says WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? SUE THE STATE?"

Yes, you can sue the state: you can also get a lawyer who can get the car out of impound for you even if you haven't paid the fine if you've filed for a court date.

If you win the state can pay all the court costs and the impound fee; if the police officer's behavior was out of line the police department can be held liable too.

If the tail light worked when you inspected it with the cop you can also sue for lack of probable cause.

 

[hyperduc]

I dont know if anyone esle touched on this, but insurance (or lack thereof) isnt a primary offense which means they cant pull you over for it there has to be another cause.

If he told you that you had a light out and once you pulled over it was working then that should have been the end of the conversation, no license no reg, no insurance.

IF you really did have insurance at the moment you were pulled over it will be easy to get that thrown out, but to recover any impound or towing fees you will need to take this further.

I suggest you file a complaint on the grounds of misconduct and request reimbursement for your cost, should they decide not accept your generous offer then I would contact legal representation.

 

[Boondockn]

Sounds Fishy!

Were you in Wasatch County?

 

[built4dtuff]

So I seem toget pulled over alot And honestly I always have a good attitude with the police officer cuz I know I did something to get pulled over. I once got pulled over for over 100 MPH in WY with Utah plates and DL. When the cop got to my door I asked him "what seems to be the problem officer?" He chuckled. He knew I knew I wasnt being a smart *** I knew I was sooooo busted. Came away with no ticket. In fact over the last 2 yrs I have been pulled over at least 8 times and only recvd 1 ticket. (the cop was trying to pull me over when I smoked out the guy that pissed me off. Couldnt see the cop cuz I had my boat roaring 80 in the fast lane) So ya I deserved 4 tickets that time but I got a ticket for 74 in a 65.

My thoughts are treat them with respect. They never know what they are getting into when they come up to your window. Could be a sawed of shotgun or could be someone with their Drivers Lic, registration,proof of ins all ready and their hands on the wheel where the officer can see them.

Just my $.02

 

[JustinB]

screwed no matter what

So I finally had my court date got in explained everything to the judge showed him the proof I had insurance and the case was dismissed. The slap in the face came when they said we cant give you back your impound fees of 525 bucks but you need to pay 50 dollars at the window in court costs. Gotta love the system.

 

[xrated]

sucks that you still got nailed for 50 bucks.